I picked up her hand and brought it to my lips. “This was a good first step for us. Let’s go somewhere we’ll both be more comfortable.” She rose to her feet, and we left. I heard a few other comments from other patrons as we weaved our way through the crowded space. It was now a certainty that we wouldbe mentioned in the next society column. It wouldn’t be the first time for me, and after Cade’s lies about Lulu, it wouldn’t be hers, either.
Our driver was still outside, and even he seemed shocked to see us back so soon. It hadn’t been my intention, but shit happens. I helped her back into the SUV, then we headed for my place this time. In case Cade’s sister called him, I knew she didn’t need to be at home. He would never dare come to my place, even though it was common knowledge of where those within the Titan ranks resided. Just in case, I made sure to let the doorman know to not allow him entry if he grew a pair and tried. From there, I took her upstairs.
Once we were inside, she stopped suddenly. “Is something wrong?” I asked.
She turned to me, then shook her head. “It’s actually quite beautiful. And, it’s nowhere near as bachelor pad-like as I thought it was going to be.”
“I bet you expected it to look like one large man cave,” I replied.
“Something like that.”
“I’m glad to have surprised you, though.”
She cleared the distance between us, then wrapped her arms around my neck. “You always do. Surprise me, that is. And if the rest of the place is as beautiful as the great room, I am in for a treat. You’ll have to put me in touch with your designer.”
I pressed my forehead against hers. “I’d love to, except Ashley Blake is no longer with us.”
She pulled away, then covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize she had done this. She was such a lovely woman.”
“She was, but I don’t want to spend our night talking about anything other than us. I’ll give you the grand tour, then I just want to hold you in my arms.”
“That sounds great.” I then started to show her the various rooms, and when we reached the theater room, the sports cave she had been expecting came into view. “Now, this is more like what I pictured for you.”
LULU
The room looked like something one would have found on that old MTV show about celebrity homes. It was elegant, matching the style of the rest of the place, but it was definitely more what I had expected to see in Noah’s home. Both side walls were lined with autographed jerseys in glass cases, all of which had been autographed by players that I even recognized by name. There were also shelves with various helmets, most of them being signed as well. The rest of the wall was the same caramel-toned leather of the six seats in the center of the room. They all faced the wall of televisions, especially the large one right in the center. Above it, there were three more albeit smaller ones.
The room had a very masculine feel to it. It was all male. All Noah. I shivered when he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. My head tilted to the side on reflex, and he took advantage of it. I loved feeling him touch me anywhere, but neck kisses had always been a weakness for me. It hadn’t taken him long to figure that out the first time we had been together, and it was something he hadn’t forgotten since.
“Noah,” I breathed as the soft caress of his lips turned to something much different. He sank his teeth into my throat, and it sent an answering response deep inside of my core.
I needed him. It seemed to be a constant state, but considering what he had done for me tonight, I wanted to be everything he wanted and more. Most men wouldn’t have come anywhere near me once they found out about the drama with my ex. Cade was very intimidating, but he couldn’t push Noah around like he had so many others over the years. Even his title meant nothing because the man currently suckling on my throbbing pulse point had the same one, and was much more respected in those circles.
Over the years, I had seen Titans come and go from the spotlight. There was a time for every one of them, and I had almost started to believe that Cade’s issues were due to the dimming of his. This younger generation of Titans had everything the older generations wanted, and they also had the time and potential to be so much more than their counterparts. I had gotten to know the group of them, but not as well as the one currently kissing his way up to my ear.
“Dessert has always been far superior to dinner, Lulu. You, my dear, are my absolute favorite kind, too.”
He brushed his lips back and forth over the lobe, even tonguing it once or twice. I shivered slightly, and held on to him for dear life. So many nights I had woken up alone and wondered whether I had dreamed this entire man up. When in moments like this, I hesitated to even breathe for fear that it was true. There was no telling what I had done right to deserve a lover so patient, skilled, and hot as hell, but I wanted to keep him as long as he would have me.
I opened my mouth hoping to respond to his words, but he beat me to the chase. “Let’s watch a movie together. The remote is on one of the seats. You find something for us, and I’ll make a few drinks.”
“Okay,” I told him, then held back my remorseful sigh when he pulled away from me.
I watched for a few seconds as he went to the bar off in the corner. I had missed it completely, and beside it, there were dart boards as well as another door. Briefly, I wondered what was behind it, but then realized that it was none of my business. I turned at that moment and walked down to the front of the seating, then located the remote control. There wasn’t one of these at home, so it took me a minute to figure out how to even turn it on. Eventually, I located the power button, then found the library of movies. As I scrolled through them, there were a few that hadn’t even been released to the public yet. Bootleg movies. I turned to him in question, and he grinned.
“I know the star well,” he responded before I could even ask him how he had gotten this blockbuster early.
“Anton Kingston?” I asked, and he gave me a nod as he placed the drinks and bottle onto a tray and walked toward me.
“Anton and I are very close friends. You do remember that he is a Titan in Manhattan.”
It dawned on me then that there were Titans all over the country. Of course, the men would all know of one another and even be friends. New York City wasn’t a place I visited all that often, but no one could miss the talk of those men who dominated the Big Apple’s society pages the same as men like Noah and Cade. A sourness filled me at the thought of my ex-husband. He alwaysseemed to creep into my mind, but I wouldn’t let thoughts of him ruin this otherwise perfect night. Well, if you also left off the reason the two of us had to leave during the middle of our meal.
“He’s very hot,” I mentioned, giggling at the sound of Noah’s growl.
Women my age didn’t fall into bed with men so much younger than them. They also didn’t giggle like schoolgirls around them, either. I realized since the divorce and how the social invitations dried up, and why, that I wasn’t like most women, though. As Noah set down the tray, then removed his shirt, I was very glad for that. Those catty women who now shunned me would be going to bed with Titans who acted every bit as shady as Cade, meanwhile I would have Noah who was like a twenty if those others were considered a ten.
“No swooning over him. I have to see it enough in person from others when with him,” Noah said, and the seriousness of his voice had me smiling.